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Summary Romeo and Juliet annotated notes of prologue and act 1
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this document contains detailed annotated notes of main quotes from the prologue and Act 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
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Romeo Juliet annotated quotes of act 1 (plus prologue)Prologue
-Overall, the prologue is a sonnet with 14 lines of iambic pentameter in an ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
rhyme scheme.
- For centuries poets have used the frame of the sonnet to explore the complicated human
experience of romantic love.
-Creates a pleasing rhythm in the reader's ear and makes the text more musical and memorable.
-It sets the scene for the play by hinting at most of the action to come.
“From ancient grudge break to new mutiny” - (antithesis) An old grudge and simmering resentment
between the two families will burst into new violence. The Capulets and Montagues have a long-
standing feud that affects everyone in town.
“Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” (foreshadowing) tells how the family feud will finally
end in tragedy and explains the focus of the play. The Montagues and Capulets get blood on their
hands when they should really be avoiding this kind of low-class brawl. A Double Meaning - Consider
Shakespeare’s play on words here with the two uses of the word "civil." Even though they are
supposed to be "civil" or seemly, decent, and well-behaved families, they still shed blood and are
guilty of violence.
"A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,"- (metaphor and foreshadowing) because the two lovers
are born from these families, their love is doomed by fate because of their birth to warring families.
"Star-crossed" is the phrase that implies that their fate is against from the start, (as if their astrology
dooms them.) The prologue gives you a hint about how this play will end, with the lovers taking their
own lives.
“Doth with their death bury their parents' strife." Foreshadowing When the lovers die, the
Montagues and Capulets finally stop fighting. The death of Romeo and Juliet is pre-determined with
this line. The audience now knows how the story will end. The two lovers will die, and the families
will end the feud because of this. Also note the double meaning of burying strife with death. When
the lovers die, they are buried. The conflict between the families dies as well and is buried along
with Romeo and Juliet.
Act 1 scene 1
“A dog of the house of Montague moves me. (paradox) Whenever he sees someone from the house
of Montague he is often provoked into anger. Noun dog shows a lack of respect in a decretory way
and dehumanises the Montague servant.
, “Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads;
take it in what sense thou wilt.” either literally, that he’s going to cut off the women’s heads, or
figuratively, that he’s going to take away their virginity.
“thrust his maids to the wall”, this crude language is suggestive of rape. The men feel as though they
have the right to do this because women are the “weaker vessels”. During the Victorian Era it was
common for women to be thought and treated harshly this way as society believed men were the
dominant sex while women were fragile and weak.
"I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee"(Tybalt to Benvolio) (repetition of hate ) First
introduction to the family's feud, shows the severity of their disputes and how Tybalt links his insult
to religion with the noun Hell ; emphasising how he hates every Montague, he is full of anguish and
hatred - ironically linking to the merging of the families at the end.
Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?" Rhetorical question
In the Elizabethan times, this would have been seen as an offensive gesture. Although Sampson is
biting his thumb, he is deliberately saying he is not doing it towards Abraham, but just doing it.
Therefore, he is tormenting the servants of Montague for a brawl; although he would not be the one
to start it, he would still have the satisfaction of a feud. Noun ‘Sir’ is mocking Abraham as he does
not respect him.
Part fools! Put up your swords! You know not what you do... I do but keep the peace!"
First sighting of Benvolio, acts as the basis of his character throughout the play. He is not wanting a
fight and is cursing the servants for not thinking; he wants them to put down the swords as his
character does not want to resort to violence. He is compassionate and caring.
Princes' speech
Three civil brawls bred of any air word – fighting over nothing
Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets – their feud is disturbing his citizens of his city
affecting his responsibility
Rebellious subject's enemies to peace –strict terms of address demonstrate he is an authorial figure.
Adjective rebellious shows they are disturbing the peace which is breaking the law, and their actions
are a crime that needs to be punished. Enemies to peace brings about the constant war in their town
(unpatriotic and disloyal)
All men depart – the command reemphasises his authority
Profaners of this neighbour stained steel- accusing them of harming their neighbourhood using
biblical references of the ten commandments ‘love thy neighbour’ (consequences is hell.) The idea is
probably that the citizens of Verona should use their 'steel' against enemies not their neighbours.
Old – repetition of old emphasises the ongoing fight between the two families and highlights the fact
they are disturbing everyone in their city because of this ‘ancient quarrel’
Purple fountains issuing from their veins – colour imagery, purple has connotations to royalty
however they are not responsible nor deserving of it.
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